Phases of the Moon

Written by: Rauna

Each month the Moon is born again as a silver crescent out of the dark of the new Moon. It grows round and shining, lighting the night, then wanes until it is dark once more. The Moon is a powerful symbol of birth, growth, death and rebirth. Its phases cause the tides, and so it is said to govern the sea and the element of Water. Menstrual cycles have often been linked to lunar phases, making the Moon a symbol of fertility in people, plants, animals and the Earth.

For witches, one of the most important times of celebration is the full Moon, when it paints the night in silver light, strengthening inner power and giving people energy. Witches meet at full Moon to perform rituals, believing magical energies are strongest then. Even animals are said to sense its power: dogs and wolves howl on full-Moon nights. Do you see a woman’s face or a man’s in the bright disc? Some cultures see a man there—as in Finland’s Kuu-Ukko—while others see a woman, an eagle or a magical hare carrying an egg.

THE GODDESS

As a Goddess, the Moon has three aspects. The waxing Moon is the Maiden. Her power has only just awakened; she is wild and free. She encourages new beginnings, protects children and helps mothers giving birth. Silver and white are her colours. Every lunar aspect has hundreds of names. In ancient Greece, the waxing Moon Goddess was Artemis the Huntress, and the crescent was her bow. Artemis lived in the mountains and raced through forests with a pack of wild dogs. Deer and bears were sacred to her. Call upon Artemis for freedom and protection.

The full Moon is the Mother, whether the mother of children or of projects, art or a garden: she represents the power to bring something to completion. She sustains life and gives her light to every living creature. Because the Moon draws the tides, the full Moon is associated with the sea, where all life began. The Mother’s colour is red, and among her names are Diana, Isis and Selene. We call on her for energy, life, abundance and creativity, and to help us finish what we have begun.

The waning Moon is the Crone, an old woman whose wisdom comes from living and experiencing life. She is teacher, healer, guide and grandmother. We imagine her wrinkled face and walking stick, but to us these are marks of beauty. To honour the Crone, we show particular kindness to old women. She understands the mystery of death and knows it leads to rebirth, and so she guards the mysteries. We call on her when reading tarot cards or asking another oracle what the future may bring. The Greeks called her Hecate and imagined her sitting on a three-legged stool, guarding the road to the land of the dead. Her colour is black.

THE GOD

In many cultures the Moon is a God and the Sun a Goddess. Sun Goddesses and Moon Gods have appeared in Japan, Arabia and Scandinavia. Like the Goddess, the God can be seen in three aspects.

The Blue God is a young, loving God, the counterpart of the Maiden. He is pictured playing a flute and loves poetry, song and love. He represents imagination, the Other Reality, dreams and visions. We call on him when we need joy or inspiration.

The Green Man is the God of growing things: flowers, grain and trees. Like the full Moon, he sustains life, giving us green vegetation. He is the sower of seeds, father of life, plans and projects, but also the compost from which new soil forms. We call upon him when we need abundance and nourishment for body or soul.

The Great Horned One is the Lord of Animals. The waning crescent resembles the antlers of a stag, so deer, bulls and goats are sacred to the Moon. Like the Crone, the Great Horned One understands the mystery of death and gives his own life, allowing himself to be hunted and eaten so others may live. He represents wisdom and guides us to the Lower World. He is the aspect of God that Christians tried to turn into a horned, tailed Devil. But he is not evil: he symbolises the power of love, hidden knowledge and selflessness. We call on him for protection, guidance and help with especially difficult tasks.

Freely translated and adapted from *Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions*, by Starhawk, Diane Baker and Anne Hill.

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